A method and system for monitoring attention of a subject

Abstract

Methods and systems, which are computerized, monitor the attention level of a subject, by obtaining at least one set of biomarkers from a subject during a time period, and, calculate, from asymmetries between the biomarkers of the at least one set of obtained biomarkers, a score of attention of the subject during the time period.

1 . A method for monitoring the attention level of a subject, comprising:
 obtaining at least one set of biomarkers from the left side of the face and the right side of the face of the subject during at least one time period; and,   calculating, by a processor, from asymmetries between the biomarkers of the at least one set of obtained biomarkers, a score of attention of the subject during the at least one time period.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one set of biomarkers includes a plurality of sets of biomarkers, and the obtaining the at least one set of biomarkers includes:
 obtaining, from an imaging apparatus, a plurality of images of the face of the subject over the at least one time period; and,   defining the biomarkers for each set of biomarkers from each image of the obtained plurality of images.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the at least one set of biomarkers is performed by at least one of a camera or an eye tracker. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biomarkers are associated with left and right eyes of the subject. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the biomarkers include at least one of pupil diameter or pupil area. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining the at least one set of biomarkers occurs during the performance of a cognitive task. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calculating the score of attention of the subject includes calculating at least one correlation between the biomarkers relating to: 1) the left side of the face over the at least one time period, and, 2) the right side of the face, over the at least one time period. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , additionally comprising: obtaining an overall metric of attention of the subject by combining each said score of attention over the at least one time period. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the overall metric for attention is compared to a threshold in order to diagnose Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the cognitive task includes presenting to the subject at least one of visual and auditory contents. 
     
     
         14 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A system for monitoring the attention level of a subject, comprising:
 an eye tracker for obtaining at least one set of biomarkers from the left side of the face and the right side of the face of the subject during at least one time period; and,   a processor for receiving data associated with the eye tracker, the processor programmed to:
 calculate asymmetries between the biomarkers of the at least one set of obtained biomarkers, a score of attention of the subject during the at least one time period. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the eye tracker includes an imaging apparatus, and wherein the at least one set of biomarkers includes a plurality of sets of biomarkers, and the processor is additionally programmed to:
 obtain, from the imaging apparatus, a plurality of images of the face of the subject over the at least one time period; and,   define the biomarkers for each set of biomarkers from each image of the obtained plurality of images.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the imaging apparatus includes at least one of cameras and eye trackers. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , the eye tracker for obtaining the at least one set of biomarkers includes at least one of an eye tracking device or a camera. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is additionally programmed to associate the biomarkers with left and right eyes of the subject. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the biomarkers include at least one of pupil diameter or pupil area. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is additionally programmed to calculate the score of attention of the subject by calculating at least one correlation between the biomarkers relating to: 1) the left side of the face over the at least one time period; and, 2) the right side of the face, over the at least one time period. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the processor is additionally programmed to obtain an overall metric of attention of the subject by combining each said score of attention over the at least one time period. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the processor is additionally programmed to compare the overall metric for attention to a threshold in order to diagnose Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 16 , additionally comprising at least one of lights, display or speakers for presenting a cognitive task in at least one of visual or auditory content. 
     
     
         28 - 29 . (canceled)